play-vpc-v; 12 Senses

Sense Number 1: PLAY ALONG-cooperate or pretend to cooperate

Commentary: Is: PLAY ALONG

Examples:
He decided to play along with the burglars for the moment.
I don't know where he's going with it, but just play along for now.

Mappings:
WordNet Verb Particle Constructions, Multiword Expressions:
play_along 1

Sense Number 2: PLAY ALONG-musically accompany

Commentary: Is: PLAY ALONG

Examples:
Children love to play along on the piano and sing their favorite songs.
Is it ok to play the song along with the tape?

Mappings:
WordNet Verb Particle Constructions, Multiword Expressions:
play_along 2

Sense Number 3: PLAY AROUND-work or deal with in an amateurish or casual manner

Commentary: Is: PLAY AROUND

Examples:
He plays around with investments but he never makes any money.
I've been playing around with the idea of writing poetry for a while now.
Will you stop playing around? We are trying to get some work done here.

Mappings:
WordNet Verb Particle Constructions, Multiword Expressions:
play_around 2

Sense Number 4: PLAY AROUND-commit adultery

Commentary: Is: PLAY AROUND

Examples:
He says that he is not merely interested in playing around with her.
He plays around a lot.

Mappings:
WordNet Verb Particle Constructions, Multiword Expressions:
play_around 1

Sense Number 5: PLAY BACK-reproduce a recording as on a recorder

Commentary: Is: PLAY BACK

Examples:
They played back the conversation to show that their client was innocent.
Play back the tape you just recorded and listen carefully.
She played back the incident over and over again in her head.

Mappings:
WordNet Verb Particle Constructions, Multiword Expressions:
play_back 1

Sense Number 6: PLAY DOWN-understate importance or quality of

Commentary: Is: PLAY DOWN

Examples:
A lawyer by profession, he knew he must mentally play down the danger.
Helen played down her disability despite its devastating effect.
She played down her influence on domestic politics.

Mappings:
WordNet Verb Particle Constructions, Multiword Expressions:
play_down 1

Sense Number 7: PLAY OFF-set into opposition or rivalry

Commentary: Is: PLAY OFF
NOTE: Set as rivals often for an advantage.

Examples:
The winners will play off against each other in the Championship Cup.
Hungarian minimalism plays off against Polish expressionism.
Watt and the guitarist played off of each other putting on a great performance!

Mappings:
PropBank: play.05
WordNet Verb Particle Constructions, Multiword Expressions:
play_off 1

Sense Number 8: PLAY OUT-happen or develop; go from beginning to end

Commentary: Is: PLAY OUT

Examples:
I wonder how this debate will play out.
The way the conference played out last year, you have to be ready every weekend.

Mappings:
PropBank: play.03
WordNet Verb Particle Constructions, Multiword Expressions:
play_out 1, 2, 3, 4

Sense Number 9: PLAY UP-emphasize, highlight, or exaggerate

Commentary: Is: PLAY UP

Examples:
No need to play the story up. The magnitude of the event is implicit in the facts.
James Plum played up his life's setbacks as if they were 'gifts...even treasures'.

Mappings:
PropBank: play.04
WordNet Verb Particle Constructions, Multiword Expressions:
play_up 1

Sense Number 10: PLAY UP-meet a standard or expectation

Commentary: Is: PLAY UP

Examples:
Gillian Apps played up to her title, as she propelled her team to victory.
He's had some weeks where he hasn't played up to his expectations or ours.

Mappings:
WordNet Verb Particle Constructions, Multiword Expressions:
play_up

Sense Number 11: PLAY UP-ingratiate oneself, often with insincere behavior

Commentary: Is: PLAY UP

Examples:
It's unbelievable how she plays up to her supervisors.
The cast members so obviously played up to the camera.

Mappings:
PropBank: play.04
WordNet Verb Particle Constructions, Multiword Expressions:
play_up 2

Sense Number 12: idiomatic expressions

Commentary: Includes: PLAY A JOKE ON PLAY A TRICK ON PLAY FALSE PLAY HOOKY PLAY IT BY EAR PLAY POSSUM

Examples:

Mappings:
WordNet Verb Particle Constructions, Multiword Expressions:
play_it_by_ear 1
play_hooky 1
play_false 1
play_a_joke_on 1
play_a_trick_on 1
play_possum 1